Gas-leak detector



(NoModel') J. F. STARK.

GAS LEAK DETECTOR. No. 406,241. Patented July Z,- 1889.

ATTORNEY N PETERS Phnwlilhographnn Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEICE.

JOHN F. STARK, OF NEWV HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS- LEAK DETECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,241, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed March 2 7, 1 8 8 9.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. STARK, of New Haven, in the county ofFayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Gas-Leak Detectors, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

' This invention has for its object the production of a simple, cheap,and efficient instrument for use as a gas-leak detector in houses andelsewhere where gas is used,whereby both lives and property may besaved.

The invention consists in a novel device in which phosphorus is used inconnection with wire-gauze within a glass or transparent tube openbelow, but having a cover on its top, and provided above or on its topwith a wire-gauzecovered opening, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents an exterior vertical View of an instrument embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2, an upper end view or plan of the same; Fig. 3, acentral vertical section thereof, and Fig. 4 a transverse section of thesame upon the line 00 w in Fig. 3.

A indicates a glass or other transparent tube open at its one or lowerend.

B is a piece of stiff wire, having secured to its lower end aseries,preferab1y three or more, of wire-gauze disks b, arranged one ontop of the other and of a size to fit closely, by theirelasticity,within the tube A. The other or upper end of this wire, whichlatter only projects a certain distance down within the tube A, issecured to a metal or other close cap 0, made to fit in a removablemanner the upper end of the tube. This cap is provided with a smallopening 0, closed by a wire-gauze 51. Prior to passing the wire B,withits attached wire-gauze disks b, down into the tube and closing theupper end of the latter by the cap 0, a few fragments of.phosphorus eare placed upon the upper surface of the combined disks 1), whichcollectively form a phosphorus support or table. The tube Ais nowplacedin another tube filled with water, or water and alcohol, in whichthe instrument may be kept when not in use.

To use the instrument, the tube A is lifted from the water, or water andalcohol, and in a few moments becomes filled with a cloud of phosphorousacid, and if it be exposed in a room or elsewhere Where there is aleakage of gas, even if onlya small one, the gas entering the open endof said tube A will cause the latter to be instantly cleared and theslow combustion of the phosphorus will be stopped.

\Vhen the instrument is used in the dark, a white light will be seenglowing in the tube, which instantly disappears when escaping gas is letonto it. v

The instrument will work at all or most temperaturessay from 66 to 100Fahrenheit. Below. 66 it will work in the dark, but will not showphosphorous acid in the daylight. At 100 Fahrenheit the cooling-power ofthe wire-gauze will be sufficient to keep the phosphorus from melting orinflaming. If the instrument be kept in a warm room in the winter, itwill work at nearly all temperatures. Said instrument is so simple thatthere Will be no difficulty in imparting, even to the most ignorant, thenecessary information how to use and take care of it, and the cheapnessof its construction will admit of its general employment by all usinggas. It can be used in dark places, and will show with safety thepresence of gas as surely as a cumbersome and expensive safety-lamp. Nordoes the employment of the phosphorus materially affect its durability,inasmuch as a single charge of phosphorus will answer for a very largenumber of tests, and, should it give out, the phosphorus can readily bereplaced, as the cap with its attached gauze disks is readily removablefrom the tube. There are but few causes that will interfere with theworking of the device. If the vapors'of turpentine, ether, and otherlike volatile agents are present, they can be detected by their odor.

Unlike a safety-lamp, in which gauze is used to prevent a flame frompassingthrough it, the gauze in this instrument by its cooling-power isused to wholly prevent a flame.

Having thus'described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The within-described device for detecting, by the aid or exposure ofphosphorus, the presence or escape of gas in a room or else- Where,consisting of a transparent tube having an opening below but mainlyclosed above, and of a phosphorus-table within the tube, composed of aseries of gauze disks adapted to form a close fit within the tube,substantially as specified.

2. The Within-described gas-leak detector operating by the aid or use ofphosphorus, as specified, the same consisting of the transparent tube A,open below, a removable cap G, howin g a gauze-covered opening in it andadapted to close the upper end of said tube, a wire or pendant attachedto said cap and arranged to project down Within the tube, and aclose-fitting phosphorus-carrying table within the tube, composed of aseries of wire-gauze disks 1), one above the other and attached to saidwire or pendant, essentially as herein set forth.

JOHN F. STARK. Vi tnesses:

A. G. FORMVALT, JOHN EVERETT.

